That big Building you showed in the first minute was Funtown, a toy store from the 80' early 90's closed because of toys r us, then become music city or something like that. The farmers market store was a auto place, a sew shop, and a small pet shop. Also Burlington used to be a jamesway old school walmart. The gym used to be a movie theater. And those used to be a wounded bread wholesale next to payless.
I miss Funtown and the movie theater :-( I remember the movies were always like $2. I saw Lion King there when I was a kid. I definitely don't remember the pet shop there... very interesting
@@Melissa2087 I remember seeing lion king there too, I think I was in 6th grade at the time, freehold intermediate school, with Mr. Mark Chipwood as the principle.
Do you remember the old Jamesway in Lakewood (also on Route 9) which was abandoned for a LONG time after Jamesway closed in 1995, and now is the Chemed Health Center? Also what about the Jamesway in Ledgewood which became a Walmart store (at Ledgewood Mall)? Or the Jamesway in Mount Holly which now is an Acme? Also the Jamesway in Medford which is now an Acme too?
The first vacant space is said to be an Aldi soon. I saw that there's an Autozone sign, which will also open soon. As for Rainbow, they probably closed here to relocate to Freehold Raceway Mall.
Aldi said they would only move in if they could basically redo that spot... whoever owns the strip said no. NOW they said yes and thats why its in the process of getting the inside/some of the outside bulldozed
The first place you looked at was the prior location of Freehold Music Center which moved two doors over. The massive floor space there had row after row of pianos. The area to the right by the maroon wall was where the guitars were displayed. You can still see the footprints of the sales counters there.
I live relatively close to this place, but I really only have memories of the Buffet place (that’s been closed for 2-3 years at this point) and the Freehold Music Center (which used to be in that building the Aldi is moving in). That Tom + Chee I remember only lasting a couple years, and that empty place next to the buffet was a PC repair place that moved elsewhere. It’s been in bad shape for quite some time, but I’m hoping the proposed redevelopment actually occurs, other than the Autozone and Aldi. Glad you covered this place, great vid!
Definitely this strip mall as seen better days, hopefully some new life comes into this area to save it. The china buffet is very 90s and takes me back. Awesome video Ray!
Can’t believe I missed this vid for 2 years. I used to go here when I was a kid. It had a Jamesway and an awesome independent toy store “fun town”. I think Fun Town then became Freehold Music. I actually bought a few bass guitars at that place when I imagined I knew how to play bass. 😂 Also, I have been to the movie theater a few times. I can’t remember what else was in this strip mall, but it had a lot of shops. I can’t believe they opened up a Tom & Chee in a dumpy old strip mall like this. Tom & Chee was originally on Shark Tank and I think they signed a deal. They were originally from Ohio.
@@RayOutThere also Burger King & White Castle are abandoned n closed down in Rahway .. which is totally crazy … who ever heard of a Burger King or White Castle going out of business n crazier they both went under in the same town😳
In East Brunswick I'm sure if it's still there or not but the shopping center with Big lots with Dollar general and Math Genie right next to it is a abounded strip mall that has been abandoned since the early 2000s
Sadly the JAMESWAY discount department store chain (they had a store here where Burlington is now) has been almost completely forgotten, or at least has been forgotten on the Internet at this point! Burlington is planning to close a bunch of stores this year and I predict this store will be one of them. This Jamesway/Burlington building is close to 60 years old, and sadly is in really bad shape.
I mostly hear Burlington opening new stores. Are these older locations that are getting relocated, because that's usually the case. Any article regarding the mass closures?
@@rl8429 I'm sorry that I don't have any articles on the subject, but at least a few of the stores that Burlington bought from VALUE CITY (which went out of business about 15 years ago) have closed without a replacement store opening. There also have been a few Burlington stores (which had NOT been Value City previously) which have quietly closed in the Philadelphia region in the past five years. Interestingly, the Burlington chain was using a logo for a short time (but their acquisition of the Value City stores was during that period of time, so those stores all had this Burlington logo) which had the "heart B" at the beginning of the word "Burlington" that the current logo has, but otherwise was identical to the old Burlington logo, which had been used for at least 20 years.
So funny... I live literally less than 5 mins from there. I was actually walking thru that shopping center the other day to get to my dentist appointment and said out loud (but to myself since no one is there lol), "Ray Out There should check this place out." And when I got home, the video was uploaded. Also the strip mall next door with the Shoprite is pretty abandoned as well!
Freehold Grand Buffet closed?? I loved that place. I moved away from the area a few years ago so I guess I missed its final years. The blue store was a PC Warehouse. Back in the day, they were a full computer retailer, but later they shifted focus more to repair before closing. They had a location on route 1 in Edison, too that first downsized, then closed. We got our first computer there. If you're looking for abandoned strip malls, check out Lohemann's plaza on 18 in East Brunswick...there's another abandoned mall just a bit down the road that once was home to a Wiz. I think the last tenant was a Carvel that closed when Sandy tore down some siding from the building. Its been empty for near a decade with some stores gone for far longer.
I used to frequent many of these stores. Especially the buffet, which was good years ago but got so filthy I stopped going there all together. I wouldn't be surprised if the health department shut them down. Their Google reviews dropped all the way down to 2.8 or something like that. I still go to the vitamin shoppe occasionally. That Tom & Chee place was pretty good, it was fun and different. Sad to see it's closed.
Used to be an odd job kinda store there when I was a kid ... And the gym was the discount $5 movie theater when I was a kid. I remember when the gym opened. I think there was a subway too.
You should come back and see what they are doing to this place. The facade is "almost" complete. The Aldi, AutoZone, Ricciardi Paint have all opened. The facade isn't the greatest, the job is kind of OK, but it's still an improvement.
I love the dead strip malls. Great video. There's nothing like an odd assortment of stores all together. There's some really odd combination of stores in some strip malls in Staten Island. None of them are dead though, but they're fun to look at.
@@RayOutThere There's probably some interesting spots you could find, but no dead shopping plazas. They just expanded the mall and put a new food court and closed the original food court which had much more character. Had a 70s vibe.
That big Building you showed in the first minute was Funtown, a toy store from the 80' early 90's closed because of toys r us, then become music city or something like that. The farmers market store was a auto place, a sew shop, and a small pet shop. Also Burlington used to be a jamesway old school walmart. The gym used to be a movie theater. And those used to be a wounded bread wholesale next to payless.
And there used to be a wonder bread, sorry kindle like to do my spelling lol.
Thank you so much for the history of this place. It seems like it was a cool place to shop back in the day
I miss Funtown and the movie theater :-( I remember the movies were always like $2. I saw Lion King there when I was a kid. I definitely don't remember the pet shop there... very interesting
@@Melissa2087 I remember seeing lion king there too, I think I was in 6th grade at the time, freehold intermediate school, with Mr. Mark Chipwood as the principle.
Do you remember the old Jamesway in Lakewood (also on Route 9) which was abandoned for a LONG time after Jamesway closed in 1995, and now is the Chemed Health Center? Also what about the Jamesway in Ledgewood which became a Walmart store (at Ledgewood Mall)? Or the Jamesway in Mount Holly which now is an Acme? Also the Jamesway in Medford which is now an Acme too?
Prince would be proud. Good one!
Thanks!
I instantly like your videos great job!
Thank you so much, I really appreciate the support 👍
The bird droppings part... 🤦🏻♂️With the ceiling caving under the weight, I can only wonder how much filth is up there.😂 Thanks for sharing!
Yeah, it was really gross!
The first vacant space is said to be an Aldi soon. I saw that there's an Autozone sign, which will also open soon. As for Rainbow, they probably closed here to relocate to Freehold Raceway Mall.
Aldi will probably do well here, its a high traffic spot from what I can tell.
Aldi said they would only move in if they could basically redo that spot... whoever owns the strip said no. NOW they said yes and thats why its in the process of getting the inside/some of the outside bulldozed
The first place you looked at was the prior location of Freehold Music Center which moved two doors over. The massive floor space there had row after row of pianos. The area to the right by the maroon wall was where the guitars were displayed. You can still see the footprints of the sales counters there.
Bought my first bass there.
Freehold Music was massive back in the day! I also remember going to Jamesway for all the best Transformers! 😂
@@ika5663me too! That’s so cool. I bought a few bass guitars there but I remember my first was a nice royal blue Ibanez. 🎉
I live relatively close to this place, but I really only have memories of the Buffet place (that’s been closed for 2-3 years at this point) and the Freehold Music Center (which used to be in that building the Aldi is moving in). That Tom + Chee I remember only lasting a couple years, and that empty place next to the buffet was a PC repair place that moved elsewhere. It’s been in bad shape for quite some time, but I’m hoping the proposed redevelopment actually occurs, other than the Autozone and Aldi.
Glad you covered this place, great vid!
Thank you! I think an Aldi might be what this place needs to revitalize
Definitely this strip mall as seen better days, hopefully some new life comes into this area to save it. The china buffet is very 90s and takes me back. Awesome video Ray!
Cool tour of the strip mall
Thank you!
I remember eating at Tom+Chee around when it first opened. It was good from what I remember. I had no idea it closed.
I heard there's another one open in Princeton
Cool video 👍🏻& Yes I definitely go out for a grill cheese allll the time lol 🤣 actually today would be a great day for one
Can’t believe I missed this vid for 2 years. I used to go here when I was a kid. It had a Jamesway and an awesome independent toy store “fun town”. I think Fun Town then became Freehold Music. I actually bought a few bass guitars at that place when I imagined I knew how to play bass. 😂
Also, I have been to the movie theater a few times. I can’t remember what else was in this strip mall, but it had a lot of shops.
I can’t believe they opened up a Tom & Chee in a dumpy old strip mall like this. Tom & Chee was originally on Shark Tank and I think they signed a deal. They were originally from Ohio.
Actually so weird they have the same set up in Carteret & the Payless, Rainbow store & the Buffet place alll went out of business also
That's really weird, maybe I'll have to check that out
@@RayOutThere also Burger King & White Castle are abandoned n closed down in Rahway .. which is totally crazy … who ever heard of a Burger King or White Castle going out of business n crazier they both went under in the same town😳
@@marmaladeslife6619 You know it's bad when those places can't make it
In East Brunswick I'm sure if it's still there or not but the shopping center with Big lots with Dollar general and Math Genie right next to it is a abounded strip mall that has been abandoned since the early 2000s
I've been to that one and I was actually able to get inside. I never released the footage because I thought it was too creepy. Maybe someday
Sadly the JAMESWAY discount department store chain (they had a store here where Burlington is now) has been almost completely forgotten, or at least has been forgotten on the Internet at this point! Burlington is planning to close a bunch of stores this year and I predict this store will be one of them. This Jamesway/Burlington building is close to 60 years old, and sadly is in really bad shape.
I mostly hear Burlington opening new stores. Are these older locations that are getting relocated, because that's usually the case. Any article regarding the mass closures?
@@rl8429 I'm sorry that I don't have any articles on the subject, but at least a few of the stores that Burlington bought from VALUE CITY (which went out of business about 15 years ago) have closed without a replacement store opening. There also have been a few Burlington stores (which had NOT been Value City previously) which have quietly closed in the Philadelphia region in the past five years. Interestingly, the Burlington chain was using a logo for a short time (but their acquisition of the Value City stores was during that period of time, so those stores all had this Burlington logo) which had the "heart B" at the beginning of the word "Burlington" that the current logo has, but otherwise was identical to the old Burlington logo, which had been used for at least 20 years.
So funny... I live literally less than 5 mins from there. I was actually walking thru that shopping center the other day to get to my dentist appointment and said out loud (but to myself since no one is there lol), "Ray Out There should check this place out." And when I got home, the video was uploaded. Also the strip mall next door with the Shoprite is pretty abandoned as well!
No way! That's so funny. I appreciate the support as always.
Are you originally from Metairie?
Freehold Grand Buffet closed?? I loved that place. I moved away from the area a few years ago so I guess I missed its final years.
The blue store was a PC Warehouse. Back in the day, they were a full computer retailer, but later they shifted focus more to repair before closing. They had a location on route 1 in Edison, too that first downsized, then closed. We got our first computer there.
If you're looking for abandoned strip malls, check out Lohemann's plaza on 18 in East Brunswick...there's another abandoned mall just a bit down the road that once was home to a Wiz. I think the last tenant was a Carvel that closed when Sandy tore down some siding from the building. Its been empty for near a decade with some stores gone for far longer.
I actually have been to that one and I filmed inside one of the stores. I never released the video but I might someday.
just wanted to let you know that you inspired me to do a video on a Kmart in New Jersey that’s one of the last kmarts left 😊
Awesome! I'll have to check that out
I used to frequent many of these stores. Especially the buffet, which was good years ago but got so filthy I stopped going there all together. I wouldn't be surprised if the health department shut them down. Their Google reviews dropped all the way down to 2.8 or something like that. I still go to the vitamin shoppe occasionally. That Tom & Chee place was pretty good, it was fun and different. Sad to see it's closed.
Yikes, that buffet must be really foul. Thanks for sharing your memories of this place.
I use to love that buffet as well!
I have been to the Freehold Grand Buffet before they had great food
Used to be an odd job kinda store there when I was a kid ... And the gym was the discount $5 movie theater when I was a kid. I remember when the gym opened. I think there was a subway too.
You should come back and see what they are doing to this place. The facade is "almost" complete. The Aldi, AutoZone, Ricciardi Paint have all opened.
The facade isn't the greatest, the job is kind of OK, but it's still an improvement.
I love the dead strip malls. Great video. There's nothing like an odd assortment of stores all together. There's some really odd combination of stores in some strip malls in Staten Island. None of them are dead though, but they're fun to look at.
Thank you, maybe I should look into stuff on Staten Island
@@RayOutThere There's probably some interesting spots you could find, but no dead shopping plazas. They just expanded the mall and put a new food court and closed the original food court which had much more character. Had a 70s vibe.
@@ChopSkullNYC Too bad I missed that